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Spotlight
Drama 2016
Spotlight
Drama October 2016
Veteran
singer calls time on stage career at The Spotlight
October
2016
84
year old Denis Torn has taken his final bow at The Spotlight
Theatre after appearing in shows there for over half a
century.
Denis,
of Old Town, Bridlington, decided to end his amateur acting
career on a high note after another successful season
performing in the theatre’s sell-out summer show,
DecaDance.
His
first show with the Bridlington Amateur Operatic Society
(BAODS) was Bless the Bride in 1964 when he was a tenor
in the chorus.
But
Denis has been singing since his school days when he was in
the choir at St James School, Grimsby, which he attended on
a choral scholarship. On leaving school, he joined the Merchant
Navy and sailed with the Orient Steam Navigation Company on
the Orcades and Oronsay which carried both cargo and emigrants
on £10 passages to Australia. During his time at sea he
was a stalwart of naval concert parties which are still called
SODS (Sailors’ Operatic and Dramatic Society) Operas.
Denis believes he has performed in over 20 different productions
with the BAODS at various venues around Bridlington including
the Spa and, since 1999, in their current home on West Street.
One
of the highlights he recalls was taking the role of Escamillo
the toreador in the amateur version of Carmen, Passion Flower
in 1968. He also enjoyed being Lieutenant Joe Cable in South
Pacific in 1970 and singing the lyrical love song, Younger than
Springtime.
More
recently Denis, now a bass baritone, has appeared in the summer
and Christmas shows and in last year’s production of Carousel.
His
funniest memory was of a show a couple of years ago which featured
a ‘Stars in their Eyes’ spoof. When asked by the
compere ‘Who are you going to be tonight?‘ Denis
fluffed his lines and replied ‘Bloody Holly’ –
which raised such a laugh from the audience it was kept in the
remaining performances.
As
a parting gift to the theatre, Denis has donated a clock for
the men’s dressing room. He explained why:
‘I’ve
always believed that you shouldn’t wear anything during
a performance that isn’t right for the role you’re
playing and sometimes that means not even strapping on a watch
– so this will remind future cast members of that when
I’m not around’.
Coffee
morning takes centre stage at The Spotlight
September
Is
that a cake knife I see before me? Macbeth’s famous
line was given a twist at the Spotlight Theatre as volunteers
served up a selection of buns, muffins and cakes in aid
of Macmillan nurses.
Their
Macmillan Coffee Morning on Friday 30 September raised
in the region of £340 with more money still to come
in.
The
theatre team not only brewed up, they held a raffle and
guided backstage tours. There was also the chance to sample
the theatre’s live streaming performance and get
tickets for the live streaming ‘taster’ evening
being held in November.
At
the end of the morning, close neighbours at The Old Bakehouse
on West Street offered the unsold cakes to their customers
in return for a donation.
The
Spotlight’s Chairman, Mike Sheldon, was delighted
with the turn out:
‘It
was great to see the theatre bar full during the day and
to meet audience members as well as old friends. And,
of course, to raise so much for such a good cause - one
that has touched the lives of many of the people who use
the theatre – gives us all a great deal of satisfaction.
We’d like to thank everyone who helped in any way
on the day’.
DecaDance
Noda Review - September
"Dad's
Army"
Take
a selfie in this mock Mr Jones' Butchers Van
August
The van can be found in the
foyer at Spotlight - just sit in
the front and take a selfie.
Photo - Free Press
John our joiner made the van.
SPOTLIGHT
THEATRE DRAMA - News
31
March
JUNE
14-18 - Spotlight Theatre Drama Production
Steel Magnolias Auditions
The usual has happened so, because of difficulty of casting,
I've had to change the play . We will now be doing 'Steel
Magnolias' in June. I can just about cast it with the ladies
I have but I would like a couple of younger ladies if possible.
All the parts are fairly large so a little experience would
be nice. My contact is 01262 604826 or 07587702810. The rehearsals
are scheduled to start next Tuesday[April 5] but I can put
it off until Friday[ April 8]
The play
and film are about the bond a group of different women share
in a small-town southern community, and how they cope with
the death of one of their own.
Mel Jones
SPOTLIGHT
THEATRE DRAMA - News
12
March
JUNE
14-18 - Spotlight Theatre Drama Production
Charley's
Aunt Auditions
TUESDAY
22nd MARCH
7.30pm in the Theatre.
There are 3 middle aged men
1 middle aged woman
3 young men and
3 young women
It's a fast moving farce and is very funny. Any time a man
dresses up as a woman is bound to get laughs!
"I'm
no ordinary woman. . ." Jack is in love with Kitty, Charley
with Amy and both need Charley's Aunt to help. But when she
doesn't turn up, they coerce their friend and fellow student
into posing as the widowed millionaire, so they can confess
their feelings to the girls. Things become more complicated
when first, Jack's father and then Amy's uncle turn up. Both
take a keen interest in Charley's Aunt, "from Brazil
- where the nuts come from."
One
of the most popular comic farces of all time, Charley's Aunt
has been loved since its original performances in 1893 and
the continuous four year run that followed.
The
search is on for Annie
January
One
of the most popular musicals ever is being performed by
The Spotlight Theatre and new talent is needed to make
it happen
Annie,
the story of a young orphan girl’s adventures as
she tries to find her real parents and true happiness,
will be on stage at the volunteer-run theatre in May.
But casting is underway now for the principal roles and
open auditions for the parts of Annie and her friends
from the Municipal Girls Orphanage will take place at
the end of January.
Director
Pauline Pope said:
‘Annie is a wonderful, heart-warming show with some
memorable songs. But the number of children in the cast
is a challenge. We need around 14 children in total who
will be put into two teams that will perform on alternate
nights.’
Pauline
is keen to tap into the wealth of local performers:
‘There’s a lot of talent in Bridlington and this
is someone’s chance to shine. Any youngster is welcome
to try out for the show but they’ll need to put in some
work beforehand. On the day they’ll be asked to sing two
songs, 'The Sun will come out Tomorrow' as a solo piece and
‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile’
in a group. And they’ll also need to be able to speak
with an American accent. Who knows, this could be the first
big break for a future star’.
One
role that has already been cast is that of Sandy, Annie’s
dog. This will be played by Alfie, a Bedlington Terrier cross
owned by the director. ‘Alfie’s no newcomer to acting.
He’s appeared with me on several occasions in comedy sketches.
He does have a tendency to overact though … so Annie will
need to keep an eye on him’.
Auditions
packs are available to collect at Spotlight Theatre,and auditions
to find Annie will take place at The Spotlight Theatre on West
Street, Bridlington on Sunday
31 January at 2.30pm.
The
Spotlight last performed Annie in 2004 and on the last night,
played to an audience of 900 at The Spa Theatre, Bridlington.
The show itself has won a Tony Award on Broadway and came in
at No 26 in Channel 4’s Top 100 Musicals, sandwiched between
The Jungle Book and Calamity Jane.
